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S I C I L I A   C L A S S I C A   F E S T I V A L

Madama Butterfly

An opera by Giacomo Puccini

Ancient Theatre, Sunday 18th August 2024 @ 9.00pm

 

Artistic Director: Nuccio ANSELMO

Orchesta and Chorus: Sicilia Classica Festival

 

TICKETS on Vivaticket

Gallery (section A): € 78,54
Gallery (section B): € 89.76
Gallery (section C): € 100,98
Gallery (section D): € 89,76
Gallery (section E): € 78,54
Cavea (Upper Circle – Section B): € 67,32
Cavea (Upper Circle – Section C): € 78,54
Cavea (Upper Circle – Section D): € 67,32
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): € 39,27

 

 

Synopsis

Time: 1904.
Place: Nagasaki, Japan.

Act 1

In 1904, a U.S. Naval officer named Pinkerton rents a house on a hill in Nagasaki, Japan, for himself and his soon-to-be wife, “Butterfly”. Her real name is Ciocio-san, (cio-cio, pronounced “chocho”[needs IPA]: the Japanese word for “butterfly” is chō (蝶?) or chōchō/chōcho (蝶々 or 蝶蝶?)). She is a 15-year-old Japanese girl whom he is marrying for convenience, since he intends to leave her once he finds a proper American wife, and since Japanese divorce laws are very lax. The wedding is to take place at the house. Butterfly had been so excited to marry an American that she had earlier secretly converted to Christianity. After the wedding ceremony, her uninvited uncle, a bonze, who has found out about her conversion, comes to the house, curses her and orders all the guests to leave, which they do while renouncing her. Pinkerton and Butterfly sing a love duet and prepare to spend their first night together.

Act 2

Three years later, Butterfly is still waiting for Pinkerton to return, as he had left shortly after their wedding. Her maid Suzuki keeps trying to convince her that he is not coming back, but Butterfly will not listen to her. Goro, the marriage broker who arranged her marriage, keeps trying to marry her off again, but she won’t listen to him either. The American Consul, Sharpless, comes to the house with a letter which he has received from Pinkerton which asks him to break some news to Butterfly: that Pinkerton is coming back to Japan, but Sharpless cannot bring himself to finish it because Butterfly becomes very excited to hear that Pinkerton is coming back. Sharpless asks Butterfly what she would do if Pinkerton were not to return. She then reveals that she gave birth to Pinkerton’s son after he had left and asks Sharpless to tell him.

From the hill house, Butterfly sees Pinkerton’s ship arriving in the harbour. She and Suzuki prepare for his arrival, and then they wait. Suzuki and the child fall asleep, but Butterfly stays up all night waiting for him to arrive.

Act 3

Suzuki wakes up in the morning and Butterfly finally falls asleep. Sharpless and Pinkerton arrive at the house, along with Pinkerton’s new American wife, Kate. They have come because Kate has agreed to raise the child. But, as Pinkerton sees how Butterfly has decorated the house for his return, he realizes he has made a huge mistake. He admits that he is a coward and cannot face her, leaving Suzuki, Sharpless and Kate to break the news to Butterfly. Agreeing to give up her child if Pinkerton comes himself to see her, she then prays to statues of her ancestral gods, says goodbye to her son, and blindfolds him. She places a small American flag into his hands and goes behind a screen, cutting her throat with her father’s hara-kiri knife. Pinkerton rushes in, but he is too late, and Butterfly dies.

 

 

 

MORE INFO

SICILIA CLASSICA FESTIVAL: www.facebook.com/siciliaclassicafestival – siciliaclassicafestival@gmail.com – Mob. +39 339 529 9932

 

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

S I C I L I A   C L A S S I C A   F E S T I V A L

Carmen

by Georges Bizet

Ancient Theatre, Saturday 17th August 2024 @ 9.00pm

 

Artistic Director: Nuccio ANSELMO

Orchesta and Chorus: Sicilia Classica Festival

 

Carmen is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée.
The opera, written in the genre of opéra comique, tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery Gypsy, Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen’s love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which José kills her in a jealous rage.

The music of Carmen has been widely acclaimed for its brilliance of melody, harmony, atmosphere and orchestration, and for the skill with which Bizet musically represented the emotions and suffering of his characters. After the composer’s death the score was subject to significant amendment, including the introduction of recitative in place of the original dialogue; there is no standard edition of the opera, and different views exist as to what versions best express Bizet’s intentions.

 

TICKETS on Vivaticket

Gallery (section A): € 78,54
Gallery (section B): € 89.76
Gallery (section C): € 100,98
Gallery (section D): € 89,76
Gallery (section E): € 78,54
Cavea (Upper Circle – Section B): € 67,32
Cavea (Upper Circle – Section C): € 78,54
Cavea (Upper Circle – Section D): € 67,32
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): € 39,27

 

 

SYNOPSIS

Place: Seville, Spain, and surrounding hills – Time: Around 1820

Act 1 – A square, in Seville. On the right, a door to the tobacco factory. At the back, a bridge. On the left, a guardhouse

A group of soldiers relaxes in the square, waiting for the changing of the guard and commenting on the passers-by (“Sur la place, chacun passe”). Micaëla appears, seeking José. Moralès tells her that “José is not yet on duty” and invites her to wait with them. She declines, saying she will return later. José arrives with the new guard, which is greeted and imitated by a crowd of urchins (“Avec la garde montante”). A lithograph of act 1 in the premiere performance, by Pierre-Auguste Lamy, 1875

As the factory bell rings, the cigarette girls emerge and exchange banter with young men in the crowd (“La cloche a sonné”). Carmen enters and sings her provocative habanera on the untameable nature of love (“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle”). The men plead with her to choose a lover, and after some teasing she throws a flower to Don José, who thus far has been ignoring her but is now annoyed by her insolence.

As the women go back to the factory, Micaëla returns and gives José a letter and a kiss from his mother (“Parle-moi de ma mère!”). He reads that his mother wants him to return home and marry Micaëla, who retreats in shy embarrassment on learning this. Just as José declares that he is ready to heed his mother’s wishes, the women stream from the factory in great agitation. Zuniga, the officer of the guard, learns that Carmen has attacked a woman with a knife. When challenged, Carmen answers with mocking defiance (“Tra la la… Coupe-moi, brûle-moi”); Zuniga orders José to tie her hands while he prepares the prison warrant. Left alone with José, Carmen beguiles him with a seguidilla, in which she sings of a night of dancing and passion with her lover—whoever that may be—in Lillas Pastia’s tavern. Confused yet mesmerised, José agrees to free her hands; as she is led away she pushes her escort to the ground and runs off laughing. José is arrested for dereliction of duty.


Act 2 – Lillas Pastia’s Inn

A month has passed. Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercédès are entertaining Zuniga and other officers (“Les tringles des sistres tintaient”) in Pastia’s inn. Carmen is delighted to learn of José’s release from a month’s detention. Outside, a chorus and procession announces the arrival of the toreador Escamillo (“Vivat, vivat le Toréro”). Invited inside, he introduces himself with the “Toreador Song” (“Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre”) and sets his sights on Carmen, who brushes him aside. Lillas Pastia hustles the crowds and the soldiers away.

When only Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès remain, the smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado arrive and reveal their plans to dispose of some recently acquired contraband (“Nous avons en tête une affaire”). Frasquita and Mercédès are keen to help them, but Carmen refuses, since she wishes to wait for José. After the smugglers leave, José arrives. Carmen treats him to a private exotic dance (“Je vais danser en votre honneur … La la la”), but her song is joined by a distant bugle call from the barracks. When José says he must return to duty, she mocks him, and he answers by showing her the flower that she threw to him in the square (“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”). Unconvinced, Carmen demands he shows his love by leaving with her. José refuses to desert, but as he prepares to depart, Zuniga enters looking for Carmen. He and José fight, and are separated by the returning smugglers, who restrain Zuniga. Having attacked a superior officer, José now has no choice but to join Carmen and the smugglers (“Suis-nous à travers la campagne”).


Act 3 – A wild spot in the mountains Magdalena Kožená and Jonas Kaufmann at the Salzburg Festival 2012

Carmen and José enter with the smugglers and their booty (“Écoute, écoute, compagnons”); Carmen has now become bored with José and tells him scornfully that he should go back to his mother. Frasquita and Mercédès amuse themselves by reading their fortunes from the cards; Carmen joins them and finds that the cards are foretelling her death, and José’s. The women depart to suborn the customs officers who are watching the locality. José is placed on guard duty.

Micaëla enters with a guide, seeking José and determined to rescue him from Carmen (“Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante”). On hearing a gunshot she hides in fear; it is José, who has fired at an intruder who proves to be Escamillo. José’s pleasure at meeting the bullfighter turns to anger when Escamillo declares his infatuation with Carmen. The pair fight (“Je suis Escamillo, toréro de Grenade”), but are interrupted by the returning smugglers and girls (“Holà, holà José”). As Escamillo leaves he invites everyone to his next bullfight in Seville. Micaëla is discovered; at first, José will not leave with her despite Carmen’s mockery, but he agrees to go when told that his mother is dying. As he departs, vowing he will return, Escamillo is heard in the distance, singing the toreador’s song.

Act 4 – A square in Seville. At the back, the walls of an ancient amphitheatre

Zuniga, Frasquita and Mercédès are among the crowd awaiting the arrival of the bullfighters (“Les voici ! Voici la quadrille!”). Escamillo enters with Carmen, and they express their mutual love (“Si tu m’aimes, Carmen”). As Escamillo goes into the arena, Frasquita warns Carmen that José is nearby, but Carmen is unafraid and willing to speak to him. Alone, she is confronted by the desperate José (“C’est toi ! C’est moi !”). While he pleads vainly for her to return to him, cheers are heard from the arena. As José makes his last entreaty, Carmen contemptuously throws down the ring he gave her and attempts to enter the arena. He then stabs her, and as Escamillo is acclaimed by the crowds, Carmen dies. José kneels and sings “Ah! Carmen! ma Carmen adorée!”; as the crowd exits the arena, José confesses to killing the woman he loved.

 

 

MORE INFO

SICILIA CLASSICA FESTIVAL: www.facebook.com/siciliaclassicafestival – siciliaclassicafestival@gmail.com – Mob. +39 339 529 9932

 

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

 

F E S T I V A L   L I R I C O   D E I   T E A T R  I   D I   P I E T R A

Ennio Morricone Tribute

Ancient Theatre, Saturday 10th August 2024 @ 9.00pm

 

Special Guest: Alberto Urso

 

TICKETS on ticketone

Parterre Gold: € 75,00
Parterre: € 65,00
Gallery (central): € 55,00
Gallery (lateral): € 45,00
Cavea (upper circle – central, nymbered seats): € 33,00
Cavea (upper circle – lateral, non-numbered seats): € 22,00

 

 

MORE INFO

Coro Lirico Siciliano: www.facebook.com/coroliricosiciliano?locale=it_IT

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione SvizzeraHotel Villa SchulerHotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

F E S T I V A L   L I R I C O   D E I   T E A T R  I   D I   P I E T R A

Turandot

An Opera by Giacomo Puccini

Ancient Theatre, Friday 9th August 2024 @ 9.00pm

 

CAST
Turandot: Chrystelle Di Marco
Calaf: Eduardo Sandoval
Liù: Elena Mosuc

Production: Festival Lirico dei Teatri di Pietra
Direction: Salvo Dolce
Chourus: Coro Lirico Siciliano

 

TICKETS on ticketone

Parterre Gold: € 98,00
Parterre: € 88,00
Gallery (central): € 77,00
Gallery (lateral): € 66,00
Cavea (upper circle – central, nymbered seats): € 50,00
Cavea (upper circle – lateral, non-numbered seats): € 27,50

 

 

MORE INFO

Coro Lirico Siciliano: www.facebook.com/coroliricosiciliano?locale=it_IT

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione SvizzeraHotel Villa SchulerHotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

I T A L I A N   O P E R A   T A O R M I N A

 

Italian Opera Taormina – Opera Selection

Cavalleria Rusticana

Opera by Pietro Mscagni

Gardens of the Teatro Nazarena, via Fontana Vecchia n°3, on Sunday 4th August 2024 @ 9.15pm
Entrance:  strictly by 8.45pm. The performance will start at 9.00pm and it’s convenient to arrive 30 minutes earlier.

* In case of bad weather conditions, the performance will be held inside the Nazarene Theater

 

Since December 6th 2023, The Italian Opera is listed among the wonders of the Intangible Heritage of the World.
The artists of the Italian Opera Taormina will show you why!

Opera Selection is a selection of works performed live with excellent artists and accompanied by pianists equally virtuous. Every first Sunday of the month a different Opera is on show.

 

Sunday 4th August 2024: Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni 

On stage:

SANTUZZA
Carmen Salomone

ALFIO
Graziano D’Urso

TURIDDU
Moises Molis

LOLA
Sabrina Messina

Maestro: Antonio Gennaro
Art Director: Silvia Di Falco
Costumes: Italian Opera Live
Scenic Design: Clara Intilisano

 

 

TICKETS on Italian Opera Taormina @ € 50,00 (standard, unassigned tickets)

Drink on the panoramic terrace included
Free for children up to 6 yo

 

MORE INFO

For more info and booking, please contact the mobile 0039 340 64 26 230 or ask your hotel.

www.italianoperataormina.comwww.facebook.com/italianoperataorminawww.instagram.com/italianoperataormina

Info and booking: mobile 0039 340 6426230 – info@italianoperataormina.com

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione SvizzeraHotel Villa SchulerHotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

Sax Quartet

“Il Potere della Gentilezza” in jazz

Gianrico Carofiglio

Ancient Theatre, Thursday 8 August 2024  @ 9.00pm

 

Gianrico Carofiglio is an Italian novelist and former anti-Mafia judge in the city of Bari. His debut novel, Involuntary Witness, published in 2002 has been adapted as the basis for a popular television series in Italy.

The show “Il Potere della Gentilezza” (“The power of kindness”), is a ,monologue on the importance and need to practice kindness, the power of doubt, the ability to ask good questions.

 

TICKETS on Ticketone.it

Stalls (Platea): € 55,00
Gallery: € 49,50
Cavea (Upper Circle): € 44,00
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): 27,00

 

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

 

 

F E S T I V A L   L I R I C O   D E I   T E A T R I   D I   P I E T R A

PUCCINI CELEBRATION

Tosca, Boheme, Madama Butterfly – Suites

Ancient Theatre, Tuesday 6th August 2024 @ 9.00pm

 

Lola Astanova, piano

 

TICKETS on ticketone.it and boxol.it

Parterre Gold (Platea): € 75,00
Parterre (Platea): € 65,00
Gallery, central: € 55,00
Gallery, lateral: € 45,00
Cavea (Upper Circle): € 33,00
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): 22,00

 

 

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione SvizzeraHotel Villa SchulerHotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

Biagio Antonacci

Funziona solo se stiamo 

Ancient Theatre, Saturday 3rd August 2024 @9.30

 

Antonacci is an Italian singer-songwriter from Milan.

On 1 September 2005 in Hollywood, Biagio Antonacci received the World Music Award for “Best-Selling Male Italian Artist” for over a million copies of his two-part album Convivendo sold by early November.

 

 

TICKETS on Ticketone.it and boxol

Stalls (Platea): € 98,00
Gallery: € 95,00
Cavea (Upper Circle): € 80,00
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): 56,00

 

MORE INFO

www.biagioantonacci.itwww.instagram.com/biagioantonacci

 

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

T O   B E   C O N F I R M E D

Biagio Antonacci

Funziona solo se stiamo 

Ancient Theatre, Friday 2nd August 2024 @9.30 – TO BE CONFIRMED

 

Antonacci is an Italian singer-songwriter from Milan.

On 1 September 2005 in Hollywood, Biagio Antonacci received the World Music Award for “Best-Selling Male Italian Artist” for over a million copies of his two-part album Convivendo sold by early November.

 

 

TICKETS on boxol

Stalls (Platea): € 98,00
Gallery: € 95,00
Cavea (Upper Circle): € 80,00
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): 56,00

 

MORE INFO

www.biagioantonacci.itwww.instagram.com/biagioantonacci

 

 

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione SvizzeraHotel Villa SchulerHotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

Biagio Antonacci

Funziona solo se stiamo 

Ancient Theatre, Thursday 1st August 2024 @9.30

 

Antonacci is an Italian singer-songwriter from Milan.

On 1 September 2005 in Hollywood, Biagio Antonacci received the World Music Award for “Best-Selling Male Italian Artist” for over a million copies of his two-part album Convivendo sold by early November.

 

TICKETS on Ticketone.it and boxol

Stalls (Platea): € 98,00
Gallery: € 95,00
Cavea (Upper Circle): € 80,00
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): 56,00

 

MORE INFO

www.biagioantonacci.itwww.instagram.com/biagioantonacci

 

 

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta